Indians manager Manny Acta made it clear yesterday that Kerry Wood will immediately reclaim ninth-inning when he returns from the disabled list, saying: “Whenever Kerry’s ready, he’ll close.”
Wood has been sidelined since July 12 with a blister on his right index finger and wasn’t any good before landing on the shelf, going 1-4 with a 6.30 ERA and three blown saves in 11 chances.
Presumably the Indians are still holding out some hope of trading Wood for minimal value (or monetary savings) before the July 31 deadline, although given his contract there’s little doubt that he’d clear waivers after July 31 and could then be moved any time until August 31.
Wood is in the second season of a two-year, $20.5 million deal and the contract also includes a sure-to-be-declined $11 million team option for 2011.